Distance and course recorder for ships.



No. 881,068. I I PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908. i

. W. O. FORBES. DISTANGE'AND COURSE RECORDER FOR SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1905.

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No.881,068. PATENTED MAILB, 1908.

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DISTANCE AND COURSE RECORDER FOR SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1905.

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@m J I I a/Mam%m% w i arro No. 881,068. PATENTBD MAR. a, 1908.

W. G. FORBES. DISTANCE AND COURSE RECORDER FOR SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1905.

7 25 w lr WILLIAM CHALMERS FORBES, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

DISTANCE AND COURSE RECORDER FOR SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 3, 1908.

Application filed February 20, 1905. Serial No. 246,611.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM CnALMERs FORBES, a subject of the King ofGreat Brits ain, residing at S. S. Edema, Queens Wharf, Melbourne, inthe State of Victoria, Australia, master mariner, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in and Relating to Distance and CourseRecorders for Ships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of distance and course recorderswherein a rotator, mounted in the bottom of the ship is operated by theinrush of water as the ship travels, and is particularly applicable forrotating mechanism of the character set forth in my British Patent No.25241 of 1902. One of the disadvantages of this class of recorder isthat the inlet pipe protrudes permanently below the bottom of the shipand cannot be removed except when in dry dock so that harbor dues areincreased on account of the extra draft.

One of the objects of this invention is to remove this di'fliculty bymaking the inlet pipe movable, so that it may be raised when enteringharbors or passing over bars or sand banks; another is to provide asimple and reliable means for checking any inaccuracies in the steering.

Briefly stated, the removable tube in which the rotator is mounted isextended through an inverted U-shaped pipe and protrudes through theships bottom, the mouth of said tube being shaped to form a forwardlyopening inlet.

The motion of the rotator is transmitted by rods and cords etc, to ameter, and from the mechanism of same the rollers of the course recorderare set in motion and draw the chart-ribbon along in touch with arecording pen, connected to the compass card, and by this means recordsnot only the actual course traveled but the distance made good towardsthe ships destination, thus instituting a check against any inaccuraciesin the steering.

It will be observed that the whole of the operating parts are soarranged in their casing that they may be readily withdrawn therefrom,while valves are provided for closing the water inlet and outlet.

In order to facilitate a clear understanding of the invention thefollowing drawings are appended viZ,Figure 1 a vertical section withparts in elevation of the distance recorder mechanism. Fig. 2 anenlarged side elevation of the course recorder mechanism. Fig. 3 avertical section on line 111111 of Fig. 2 with parts omitted. Figs. 4and 5 represent detail sectional views of parts of the mechanism.

According to this invention the rotator 1 is mounted within a tube 2adapted to fit the inlet branch 3 of an inverted. U-shaped pipe 4riveted on the bottom. 5 of the ship, said tube being in communicationwith the U- shaped pipe by an opening 6. The tube 2 passes through avalve 7 in the inlet branch andthe lower end thereof protrudes about twoinches below the bottom of the ship and is open at the front as shownand curved at the back as at 8 in order to direct the water up said tubeand thereby impart a rotary motion to the rotator. The water then passesalong the U-shaped pipe and is discharged through the outlet branch 9provided also with a valve 10, and having its mouth flush with the shipsbottom. This valve 10 is used for regulating the pressure of the waterin the U-shaped pipe. It will be understood that the opening and closingmember or plug of the valve 7 will project through the tube 2, oppositeopenings of suitable dimensions being provided in this tube to permitthe valve to be opened or closed, and allow the said tube to perform itsdesired function. A copper or other suitable plate 11 is secured. to theships bottom around the inlet and outlet pipes for the purpose ofpreventing the growth of barnacles around same. The valves are operatedby independent worm and wheel gearing 12 as shown in Fig. 1. When it isdesired to stop the recorder the tube 2 is raised till it clears thevalve 7 and the latter is rotated,

thus cutting off the admission of the water.

By similarly closing the valve 10 of the outlet branch the water isprevented from rising in the casing of the mechanism while said valve 10is also used for regulating the passage of the water as beforementioned.

The shaft 120 of the rotator is mounted within a tapering plug 13fitting the flared upper end. 14 of the inlet branch of the pipe 4 and acasing 15, inclosing the whole mechanism is attached to said pipe. Thiscasing is preferably of oval section and is provided on its inner liningwith tapering guide sockets 16 into which fit lugs 17 dependingvertically from a sleeve 18 attached to the tapering plug 13, By thisarrangement the inlet tube 2 is always lowered into its correctposition, and, furthermore, it is prevented from moving laterally. Therods and cords 19 which connect the rotator to the meter are providedwith suitable means for adj usting their length as shown in Fig. 1.

The casing has a cover 20 in the center of which is a cup 21, seeenlarged detail view, Fig. 4, provided with a ring of balls 22 and therod 19 connecting the rotator to the meter 24 passes freely through ahole in the cup and is provided with a comparatively large ball 23 whichis adapted to rest on the balls in said cup. By this means a universalbearing is formed which will permit the ball on the rod to gyrate in anydirection.

The meter is mounted upon an arm 25 adjustably attached to a bracket 26on the frame 27 of the course recorder.

The motion from the meter is conveyed by beveled gearing 28 to the lowerone 29 of a pair of friction rollers 29, 30 mounted one above the otherin the frame, which revolve in unison by means of toothed wheels 31 ingear with each other and mounted on the ends of their spindles 32. Thesespindles are loosely mounted in their bearings and the rollers are keptin contact by adjustable springs 33 bearing on the spindle of the upperroller.

At the upper end of the frame 27 is a loose roller 34 approximately inhorizontal line with the upper friction roller 30, and about the centerof the frame and beneath the loose roller is a detachable roller 35 uponwhich the chart-ribbon 36 is wound. The tension of this roller isregulated by an adjustable spring operated lever 37 engaging one end ofthe spindle thereof, while the other is held in its hearing by a pivotedlever 38. The chart-ribbon 36 from the roller 35 passes around the looseroller 34, then horizontally over the upper friction roller 30 andbetween same and the lower one 29. The frame 27 which is of rectangularshape is adjustably connected by rods 39 to the bowl of the compass 40which is either hung from an overhead frame 41 as shown in Fig. 2, orsupported on a frame upon the floor or table of the chart room. Springs42 may be advantageously employed as shown in order to prevent thevibration of the ship affecting the recorder.

The recording pen 43 which is in touch with the chart-ribbon 36 isadjustably mounted upon a light frame 44 passing vertically around thecompass 40 and is adjustably attached to a pin 45 upon the compass cardwhich extends up through a central hole in the glass face of thecompass. The frame 44 is provided with a sliding weight 46 by means ofwhich the pen 43 may be truly balanced, and the frame 27 of the courserecorder may also be weighted to counterbalance the weight of the meter.

The pen which I prefer to use is shown enlarged by Fig. 5 and is one ofthe fountain class having a hollow tapering point with a fine thread 47passing therethrough to the ink. When in operation the recorder is soadjusted that only the thread trails on the chart-ribbon and hence thereis no resistance offered to the compass which is an important feature ofthe invention.

During very rough weather a slight pendulous motion is set up in thecourse recorder and in order to counteract same I attach to the frame aliquid cushion buffer comprising a number of vertical blades 48 securedupon a boss 49 and depending by a rod 50 from the frame 27 and suspendedin a water or other liquid tank 51 having an elongated neck 52 so thatwhen the ship rolls the water acts as a liquid buffer against the bladesand minimizes the vibration of the recording pen.

In order to prevent the compass becoming sluggish I attach to therotating rod of the meter a lateral arm 53 which is adapted to engagethe lower end of a lever 54 pivoted as at 55 to the course recorderframe 27 and set at an incline so that its upper end normally restsagainst the compass.

The inner tube is withdrawn when the valves are turned off and thepressure consequently reduced therein; by lifting the links out of theirrecesses by means of the cords attached thereto. The spindle of thelower worm fits loosely within the hollow spindle of the upper worm sothat each may be rotated independently by any suitable device. By thismeans the end of the lever rises and falls continuously thus tapping thecompass and keeping same alive.

According to this invention as the vessel moves forward the motion ofthe rotator is communicated to the meter which as before stated in turnunwinds the chart-ribbon so that the pen attached to the compasscorrectly traces on said chart the variations in the course of the ship.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. In a distance and course recorder or indicator forships, the combination of an inverted U-shaped pipe having one branchforming an inlet tube and the opposite branch an outlet, a tube slidablymounted in the said inlet branch and having the end thereof which isprojectable below the ships bottom provided with an opening to the saidoutlet branch and also with the inlet opening presented in the directionof the ships progress and with a scoop-shaped back, valves in the inletand outlet branches, means for lowering and raising the tube'in theinlet branch, the said tube being movable above the valve in the inletbranch, recording mechanism, and a rotating operating device for therecording mechanism, the rotating operating device being disposed in thesaid carrying a marking instrument consisting of tube above the valve inthe inlet branch.

2. In a distance and course recorder or indicator for ships, thecombination of an inverted. U-shaped pipe having one branch forming aninlet tube and the opposite branch an outlet, a tube slidably mounted inthe inlet branch and having the end thereof which is projectable belowthe ships bottom provided with an opening to the said outlet branch andwith an inlet opening presented in the direction of the ships progressand with a scoop-shaped back, valves in the said inlet and outletbranches, means for lowering and raising the tube in the inlet branch,the tube being movable above the valve in the inlet branch, recordingmechanism, a rotating operating device also located in the tube abovethe valve and actuating the recording mechanism, and means forindependently operating the valves in the inlet and outlet branches. r

3. In a recording or indicating mechanism for ships, means fordelineating the course of the ship, comprising a chart ribbon, a rollerupon which the said ribbon is Wound, a tensioning device for the saidroller, and frictional rollers between which the chart has movement, incombination with a com pass, a frame adjustable on the compass andcarrying a meter and means for imparting motion to the chart ribbon, anda light frame passing vertically around the compass and supported uponthe latter, the said frame which passes vertically around the compass areceptacle for marking fluid and a thread, the end of the threadprotruding from the receptacle and adapted to trail upon the chartribbon.

4. In a recording or indicating mechanism for ships, means fordelineating the course of the ship, comprising a chart ribbon, a rollerupon which the said ribbon is wound, a tensioning device for-the roller,and frictional rollers between which the chart has move ment, incombination with a compass, having a pin, a frame adjustable on thecompass and carrying a meter and means for imparting motion to the chartribbon, the said frame being provided with a lever which is pivotedthereto and has its upper end in operative relation to the compass totap the latter and keep it alive, and a light frame passing verticallyaround the compass and supported by the pin of said compass and carryinga marking instrument consisting of a receptacle containing a markingfluid and a thread, the end of the thread protruding from the receptacleand adapted to trail upon the chart ribbon, the meter being pro videdwith a lateral arm which engages the lever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM CHALMERS FORBES.

Vitnesses:

EDWARD NEEDHAM WArEns, VVILLI'AM HERBERT WATERS.

